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Soccer stars Ronaldo and Messi set new records at World Cup

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

OK. So we've been talking about musical legends. Now let's talk about some future icons in sport. We're talking about soccer superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have been playing at the highest level for the better part of two decades.

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

And as this year's FIFA World Cup performances prove, they can still compete with players half their age and add to their legendary status with new individual records.

MARTIN: Cristiano Ronaldo, known as CR7, is competing for Portugal. And in Tuesday's group stage game against Uzbekistan, Ronaldo did something no man or woman has done before.

MARTÍNEZ: He scored goals in six different World Cups for a total of 10 World Cup goals to his name.

MARTIN: And he did it all at the age of 41. A, you know I'm going to ask. Did you break any records at that age?

MARTÍNEZ: No records. Just bones.

MARTIN: (Laughter).

MARTÍNEZ: Trying to be Mr. Young Guy at 41, but I shouldn't have. No, I didn't have a Lionel Messi in my life who pushed me to those new heights like Ronaldo does. Now, just the day before Ronaldo set records, it was Messi who added to his long list of accolades.

MARTIN: Say more.

MARTÍNEZ: With two goals in Argentina's win against Austria on Monday, Messi became the leading goal scorer in World Cup history. He now has 18 goals, two more than former German striker Miroslav Klose and one more than the Brazilian female player Marta.

MARTIN: And he's only 39.

MARTÍNEZ: Yeah.

MARTIN: Actually, it's his birthday today. So happy birthday to...

MARTÍNEZ: Feliz cumpleanos.

MARTIN: Is he the GOAT or future GOAT?

MARTÍNEZ: Oh.

MARTIN: GOAT to be?

MARTÍNEZ: Yeah. I think he has to be, right?

MARTIN: Well, we'll see. But Messi and Ronaldo are, I guess we would say, at the tail end of their careers.

MARTÍNEZ: Yeah. Argentina already secured its ticket to the knockout stage. Portugal looking to follow suit, which means that fans get to see Messi and Ronaldo maybe play at least two more times.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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